Both Community High School District 99 high schools did not make the grade on this year’s state report cards, putting educators one step closer to academic restructuring.

Across the School District, black and Hispanic students’ reading and math scores did not meet the required standards. Low-income students also fell short in both subjects, and students with disabilities missed the mark on the reading exam.

While the entire student body performed well on both tests — about 75 percent met or exceeded the requirements — District 99 and both its high schools are still on notice until all students’ scores are up to snuff.

The pressure comes from the No Child Left Behind Act, which goes beyond districtwide scores and looks at performance in racial and social demographics. With students groups across the district falling short, Downers Grove North High School will have to create a restructuring plan for next school year, and Downers Grove South’s year-old restructuring plan will continue another year.

“Of course, we’re disappointed,” School Board President Julia Beckman said. “We’ve been making some very concerted efforts on tutoring and extra help for those students.”

The high schools’ report cards reflect the results from the juniors taking the Prairie State Achievement Exam. Within District 99, seven student subgroups did not meet the statewide standards — officially known as Adequate Yearly Progress — at either of the high schools or at the district level.

Aside from overall performance, the report cards considers several subgroups based on race or other factors, such as family income or whether the student has limited English proficiency. There must be at least 45 students in a subgroup for it to be measured.

At Downers South, black students fell short in both subjects; Hispanic students did not meet the math standards; and low-income students fell short in math and reading.

In seven years, the school has not made adequate progress, and in 2008-09 the district imposed a two-year restructuring plan. The plan focused on faculty and staff development, as well as reaching out to the community to engage underperforming students’ parents, said Mary Biniewicz, assistant superintendent for student learning.

If student scores do not improve at Downers South in 2010, the district will have to revise that plan.

At Downers North, students with disabilities did not meet the reading standard, and low-income students fell short in both subjects. Only white students mustered enough numbers to be measured as a subgroup, and they made adequate progress in both subjects.

This marks two straight years Downers North has not made adequate progress, which spurs a separate restructuring plan for that school.

It is not yet clear what Downers North’s plan will look like or if it will resemble the one at Downers South, Biniewicz said. It has to go before the Illinois State Board of Education for approval in January.

The process continues that way — creating restructuring plans and revising them every two years — until test scores improve or the state intervenes. The state has the option of taking over a troubled school and removing the teachers or principal, or it could bring in an educational consultant.

But given how many schools across the state do not meet adequate yearly progress, Biniewicz said she thinks that is unlikely for District 99.

“I’m not sure of how the state could go that route,” she said.